YOUR CHILD’S FIRST ORTHODONTIC CHECKUP

The American Dental Association recommends that all children see the dentist for their first dental exam by the first birthday. A regular cleaning every six months is a great start to a life time of good oral health habits. As you child grows and matures, primary teeth or baby teeth begin to fall out and are replaced with permanent teeth.

Seeing a dentist every six months will help detect any orthodontic issues, such as teeth and jaw alignment, that may develop. Frequently, it is the parent that detects an orthodontic issue first. That is why The American Dental Association highly recommends that children see an orthodontist by age seven.

THE BENEFITS OF AN ORTHODONTIC EVALUATION BY AGE SEVEN

Seeking an orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven may help mitigate many orthodontic problems in the future. The orthodontist will get baseline images of your child’s jaw and teeth alignment and be able to determine the most beneficial time to begin treatment or early intervention. The earlier orthodontic issues are detected, the easier they are to correct. One of the many goals of an orthodontist is to be able to retain all of your child’s permanent teeth. Obtaining a baseline evaluation may prevent your child from having permanent teeth pulled, which is a lifetime benefit. Seven means planning ahead to a healthy, straight smile.

If you have any questions or concerns throughout your treatment or in the future, please consult your orthodontist or visit mylifemysmile.org.